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Letter to the Editor

Quality and Quantity at Canadian Collision Industry Forum in January

“Innovation and change is all around us”, said new CCIF chairman, Larry Jefferies.

Jefferies cited CCIF itself as an innovation in the collision repair industry and urged participants to take full advantage of it. Issues such as industry image, profitability and government regulations would need constant attention, new ideas and approaches that could be developed at CCIF. Attracting young people into the industry, training them and offering them a range of career development options would be critical to the ability of shop owners to keep repairing vehicles and make money.

Brian Kelleher of Mitchell International reported on progress by the Parts & Materials Committee. As a result of the committee’s work, Kelleher suggested that more aftermarket parts are now being used. There is a better understanding between shops, suppliers, and insurers. Improved communication on problems had led to a higher level of fit and finish. Kelleher said that the involvement of recyclers at CCIF was leading to improved understanding between stakeholders and better rules for ordering recycled parts. Looking ahead, the Parts & Materials Committee plans to deal with issues such as vehicle technology, parts availability, and special tool and training needs.

Linda Brown of the CARS Network updated CCIF on Phase II of the CARS Collision Repair Project, an initiative designed to facilitate the design, development, and delivery of a new training curriculum for the industry. CARS is forming partnerships with providers of high quality technical and non-technical training, and also developing different ways of delivering training to suit the needs and convenience of trainees and their employers.

CCIF administrator Mike Bryan gave participants a sneak preview of CCIF’s long-awaited new web site, due to go live at the end of February.

“The new site will play a major role in our drive to unite the industry from coast to coast,” said Bryan. “For those CCIF participants who are unable to travel to all meetings, the web site will keep them connected until CCIF returns to their province.”

The web site will feature regularly updated industry news, reports on CCIF activities plus a polling and survey capability that will enable CCIF to collect and share opinions on issues of importance.

There was a high level of interest in the output from the Cycle Time Committee. Committee chairman Ken Friesen, of Concours Collision Centres, drew comparisons between the historical damage appraisal process driven by British Columbia’s primary insurer, ICBC, and the express process now in use. Cycle times had been considerably reduced, not least because of the elimination of so much wasted time before the repair process begins.

“We need to slow down so that we can hurry up,” said Friesen. He added that the key to reducing cycle time is in continually finding ways to shorten the time from the Damage Analysis to the point where we “Eventually Get It Right.”

Other highlights of CCIF Toronto included an update on the state of the industry in Ontario by Tony Canade of Oaktown Collision Centres. There was growing need to improve profitability and establish a level playing field for all collision repairers in Ontario, stated Canade. The Collision Repair Standards Act (Bill 186) would provide a good framework for addressing these and other key issues, but the Ontario government is showing little interest in implementing the Act. Alternative ways of achieving the same goals might have to be considered, added Canade.

A standing ovation was reserved for Mark Millson, an apprentice from Budd’s Collision, Oakville. He inspired CCIF with his story about success in Skills Canada’s local, regional, and national skills competitions. After winning Silver in the National Skills Competition in 2003, Millson set his sights on Gold for 2004 and in Winnipeg that year, he did just that. Now as Canadian champion he goes forward to compete in the International Skills Competition in Helsinki. The pride in the room at CCIF was palpable as Millson declared his commitment to collision repair and urged all to do their part in making the skilled trades more attractive to young people.

The Canadian Collision Industry Forum meets again in April, in Surrey, British Columbia.

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